r/houseplants • • 12d ago

A recent issue in this sub - please read

3.1k Upvotes

Hey there,

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

There's something I've noticed recently in the sub that I'd like to raise.

I've been moderating on Reddit for about 18 years, and I've been involved with this community for the last seven. Throughout that time, this sub has always been a particularly lovely place to be. The kindness, helpfulness, and good humour of its members have always stood out, and from a moderation perspective, it's been a genuine pleasure to be part of.

Unfortunately, I've noticed a significant increase in unkind and aggressive behaviour here recently. I don't know what's behind the change, or why it's happening here now, but it's something I'd really like us to address before it becomes a bigger problem.

Please:

If you come across a comment that's aggressive, hostile, or unnecessarily unkind — whether it's directed at you or someone else — please resist the temptation to engage. Instead, just hit the Report button and move on.

We'll take care of addressing the behaviour and, where necessary, will remove accounts who seem to need to create unpleasantness for people around them.

r/houseplants has always been a welcoming and supportive community, and I'd very much like to keep it that way. The overwhelming majority of you already contribute to that simply by being thoughtful and decent towards one another.

Thanks for helping us look after this little corner of Reddit. It's appreciated.

PS moderator applications are open, and some additional hands would be helpful rn. We are looking for people with an active history here and significant Reddit-moderation experience.


r/houseplants • • 3h ago

Before / After - Progress Pics My attempts to hybridize two rare alocasias was actually successful!

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796 Upvotes

...Well. So far, anyway.

I own over a hundred alocasias. Up until now I've always cut off their inflorescences, but this time I decided to attempt a reciprocal cross of simpo albo and dragon scale aurea just for funsies.

To pollinate, you must expose the female chamber in order to be able to reach the pistils. A small window was cut into each spathe within 24 hours of it opening, as the female phase of flowering is incredibly short. I had stored pollen from my Simpo Albo previously and used this on the inflorescences on the Dragon Scale. Within a week, the results are clear to see. The pistils are browning and shrinking and the berries are rapidly plumping up.

Next, an inflo on my Simpo Albo opened just in time to overlap with the male pollen phase of the Dragon Scale's. I collected fresh pollen from it and fertilized the Simpo Albo as well, which also appears to be successful.

I now have three infructesences on my two plants - two on my Dragon Scale Aurea and one on my Simpo Albo.

It'll be several months before the berries are ripe and the seeds are ready to sow. There's a high chance that one or all of the infructesences will be aborted by the mother plant. And even if they do make it to ripening, there's a chance that they may not be viable seeds.

...But it'll be great fun to see how it goes, chance of failure notwithstanding!


r/houseplants • • 9h ago

Discussion Bird of Paradise: Spathe within a spathe. Is this common?

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399 Upvotes

Flowerception


r/houseplants • • 6h ago

Discussion Jellybean Forest

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70 Upvotes

I made a mistake when I planted 3 sad cuttings and all of the beans that fell off in the process. There are waaaaaay too many in the is pot, but also I cant bring myself to separate them because I will inevitably end up with another thousand loose beans that I'll feel obligated to plant.

Also, I'm aware it needs/wants more light near the lower portion. It's in the works. I recently moved it from directly under a shared 18W T5 to a dedicated 8W bulb with shade that sits directly over it - which it seems to like better (finally sun-stressing and less etiolation), so I'm still experimenting!

Anyway I wish I was a little bug that could live in this weird little forest lol.


r/houseplants • • 8h ago

Help WTH is this

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92 Upvotes

This shit is really freaking me out, I’d hate to throw out the plant but idk what to do about this


r/houseplants • • 14h ago

Help Fungus gnats keep getting worse — what actually worked for you?

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237 Upvotes

PNW, house. I've got a bad fungus gnat infestation and it's getting worse, not better (photo: yellow sticky traps covered in them).

What I've tried:
- Yellow sticky traps — they catch a ton, but new gnats keep appearing
- Magic Gardener Fungus Gnat Larvae Killer

What actually broke the cycle for you? Mosquito Bits tea, letting the soil dry out fully, repotting in fresh mix, sand top layer, something else? Open to whatever works — just want them gone.


r/houseplants • • 1d ago

Plant ID Iconic NYC behavior: complimented a woman’s plant on the subway and she just gave it to me??

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2.6k Upvotes

I love my city. A woman boarded the train carrying a lovely plant, and when I complimented it she said “Thanks! Do you want it?”

Turns out she’s a florist and this one wasn’t deeded for a display installation she’d just finished. It was very funny to explain why I showed up to a networking event with a big plant.

I thiiink it’s a Chinese evergreen, but would love confirmation. If anyone could confirm I’d appreciate it, also if has tips I’d be happy to hear them!


r/houseplants • • 12h ago

Discussion Absolutely stunning

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103 Upvotes

This is the first time my holiday cactus flowers and I'm stunned by her beauty!


r/houseplants • • 9h ago

Discussion Is it me, or are thrips showing up everywhere right now?

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53 Upvotes

Thrips are one of those common pests - granted. But it sure does seem like nearly all the houseplant related subs have pics of sad plants with itty bitty rice-grain-shaped bugs on them right now. What's up with that? Is a major distributor having thrip problems, maybe? Are thrips finally making their big move to take over the world, one house plant at a time?


r/houseplants • • 5h ago

Humor/Fluff Anybody else put their plants in ponytails on watering day?

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20 Upvotes

Before I bought plant twist-ties, I'd use actual scrunchies. I never tie them tight, just enough to keep everybody's leaves from getting tangled. 🥰


r/houseplants • • 1h ago

Discussion My Sansevieria ❤

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• Upvotes

My Sansevieria. I love it for its compactness. ❤ It grows one new rosette per year.


r/houseplants • • 1h ago

Discussion These beautiful pink flowers smell like soggy feet and cat poop

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• Upvotes

Such a pretty plants but GOD does it reek!!! Every time I walk by, I look around to see where the cat pooped. Nope, just this horrible smelling plant. Again.


r/houseplants • • 2h ago

Discussion Does neem oil actually do anything

7 Upvotes

I’ve been using a neem based spray in an attempt to control thrips and mealybugs on my balcony plants (I really don’t want to poison pollinators) and I’m gonna be honest: all it seems to do is make my plants visibly sad. Has it actually worked for anyone?


r/houseplants • • 8h ago

Plant ID Came home to unknown plant.

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23 Upvotes

Today I got home to a couple sad plants left at my driveway gate with a note. There was no name for me to know who left them, so I can't ask them what this plant is called. One was a golden pothos and the other was this one pictured. I need to get it healthy, but I don't know what it needs until I know what it is. All of my plants are cactus or succulents other than my pothos and my hoya, so I am no good at IDing other types house plants.

Thank you for your help.

Right now I just have it in my enclosed porch area, but I will get it to a proper spot and potted in the correct medium once I know what that would be. The dirt is wet right now, but I think it was watered right before they were dropped off at my house.


r/houseplants • • 2h ago

Discussion New addition

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6 Upvotes

I added a new addition to my collection that I have been wanting for awhile; A Turtle Back Plant (Labisia).

The growing medium it came in was strictly jist peat. When I buyba plant that is growing in that, I immediately repot as I feel the peat stays too soggy too long.

After reading up on the plant more, I decided to repot it into the moss on top of leca setup which I have jad amazing success with on other plants.

I just wanted to reach out to see who has one and if anyone has any tips or tricks to keep this amazing plant thriving


r/houseplants • • 13h ago

Help Please someone help. Please. Please.

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34 Upvotes

I don’t know why all my begonias keep dying and it’s really keeping me from enjoying the only hobby I have access to (yay depression)

Someone please help me. Please. I can’t keep crying over plants. If I can’t figure this out I have to be done with this hobby (can’t keep replacing my favorites $$$)


r/houseplants • • 1d ago

Discussion Has anyone else’s started blooming?

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633 Upvotes

I bought it a year ago when I moved into my first apartment (it was blooming) and I eventually repotted it over the summer and left it outside all summer. I brought it inside probably 3 weeks ago and it started blooming about a week ago. I want to turn this into an heirloom!!!


r/houseplants • • 16m ago

Before / After - Progress Pics Making progress

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• Upvotes

After painters left and all kinds of de-construction went on for past 2 weeks or so, I finally got ALL 3 of my plants settled into appropriate containers and soil/s. The pics are in chronological order. My room has very little humidity, (live in the NE in Philadelphia) so have to work on that for the lemon lime maranta (in middle in 3rd pic) But they all seem to be thriving! I have limited space in which I can use for my plants, as there are cats in the house. I plan on purchasing a plant rack soon.


r/houseplants • • 7h ago

Discussion The return of the spider plant

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11 Upvotes

Hi all, earlier this summer I put a pot up about my spider plant. After reading the comments I decided to give it an ultimatum, adapt or die

Its decided to adapt 😂

I cut off all the leaves and its decided to cone back thicker than before with extras

Just wondering should I be doing anything about the tall bits that have stuck out as they were never there before hand 🤣

Cheers


r/houseplants • • 11h ago

Help Does anyone know how to arrange these plants so the room doesn’t feel so crowded?(pls don’t mind the tt stuff i was to lazy to crop it out lmao)

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21 Upvotes

r/houseplants • • 2h ago

Help What the Eff Would Y’all do with this Pearls and Jades?

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5 Upvotes

She’s taking over the apartment and I don’t think her vines are very pretty LOL. I love her but her vines look a little… stringy.

If she were yours, what would you do to give her more space? A hanging planter? Top of a bookshelf? Should I use a trellis to give the illusion that she is bushier? Idk if that would work with her vines. I would love to see inspo photos of how you’ve used your plants like her for decor!

The last pic is when I first got her just because I find it amusing.


r/houseplants • • 40m ago

Plant ID Got this as a free gift, but not sure what is it or whether it can live or not…

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• Upvotes

Seems like a ZZ plant but why is it so bright? I’m worried it can’t photosynthesise because there’s like no green on the leaves


r/houseplants • • 1h ago

Help When/how do I water my air plant? I am new to air plants

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• Upvotes

I bought her 2 days ago. I never had own an air plant before. I should have bought a smaller one to begin with. I saw people suggesting to submerge this plant in water and let it soak up for 30 minutes . Others have said to soak it only 10 minutes. Afterwards, let it upside down to prevent crown rot in a well ventilated area for a few hours. However, I’ve also came across people saying to not submerge the plant and just mist it.

I also have no idea when to water her. I’ve read somewhere that if the leaves curl, it means they are thirsty. But it seems like this type of airplantal already has natural curls. So how can I tell 😭.

Also, I believe she was JUST watered when I first got her (2 days ago). She had water in her leaves, so I left her drying upside down when we were back at home for the entire day.

At night time, I just put her next to my humidifier and then put her back on the shelf in front of the window


r/houseplants • • 1h ago

Plant ID Not dasheen mosaic.. Right?

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• Upvotes

Posting for someone. I'm 90% sure this isn't mosaic, but I can't identify which alocasia this is. I'm pretty sure its amazonica family, green petiole, no specking like tigrinia/zebrina. I'm thinking possible nutrient deficiency, but I've never seen it so sever if that's what it is. Leaf new, but hardening off.


r/houseplants • • 6h ago

Help Help! Fiddle leaf fig rescue

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8 Upvotes

My daughter insisted on bringing home a sad fiddle leaf fig from the curb and wants to nurse it back to health. It’s big and I’ve never had one and know nothing… what is the best approach here? Should I try starting it again from a cutting, or work with this spindly dude as he is? No idea how long it sat outside in the cold weather either.

Currently it is plopped here because I’m not even sure where to place it, probably need some light augmentation anywhere it would fit. Oh, plant adventures!